The New Apple AirPods 4 Earbuds with Noise Canceling Is Down to $139 (22% Off) for the Holidays – IGN

The Apple AirPods 4 was released on September, 2024 in two variants: one with noise canceling and one without. This particular model is the one with noise canceling. The AirPods 4 features several updates over the AirPods 3 which brings it in-line with modern day standards. These improvements include the newer Apple H2 chip (vs H1), Bluetooth 5.3 support (vs Bluetooth 5.0), better IP54 resistance rating which now protects against dust intrustion (vs IPX4), adoption of the USB Type-C standard (vs Lightning), and replacement of the skin detect sensor with a more reliable optical in-ear sensor.

Should you get the AirPods 4 with ANC over the AirPods Pro?

The AirPods 4 with active noise cancelation is mostly similar to the more expensive AirPods Pro 2 with one major difference: the AirPods 4 is an open-ear earbud with non-adjustable tips, whereas the AirPods Pro is an in-ear earbud with adjustable tips. Both ANC models have useful features like Transparency Mode and Conversational Awareness.

If you were to base this decision on the current price of the two earbuds, the AirPods 4 would certainly be the way to go. A $30 price different is pretty significant. You’ll also have to consider what you prioritize more: comfort or performance. In-ear earbuds will provide better noise cancelation and audio quality by nature of its passive isolation, but open-ear earbuds are less intrusive and more comfortable to wear. Check out our recommendations for the best AirPods models to buy.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.